Water District Okays Water Well Permits for YFZ
 
The Eldorado Success
 
The Plateau Underground Water Conservation & Supply District board of directors met Tuesday, July 20, and approved two permit applications submitted by the YFZ Ranch, allowing a re-entry of an old well and the drilling of a new one. Before voting on the matter, the directors heard from District Manager Cindy Cawley, who explained to the exact location of the wells and said that they met current regulations on spacing and depth.

During the discussion it was noted that there are already two wells in use at the ranch, one of which is being used to irrigate a large garden. Cawley informed the board that YFZ representative Ernie Jessop had told her the garden is soon to be doubled in size. She added that although the well is currently exempt from district rules it would become subject to those rules if production exceeds 25,000 gallons per day. If and when that benchmark is reached, the an application for a permit for that well must be filed with the district, Cawley said.

Discussion then turned to the issue of municipal water supply wells. It was explained that wells used to serve more than 25 people fall under TCEQ guidelines and must be monitored for bacteria and chemically treated, much the same as wells owned by the City of Eldorado.

As part of the permits issued to the YFZ, the board required each well to have a 3/4 inch access plug so that Cawley could monitor the water level. The directors also reserved the right to require that flow meters be installed on the wells at YFZ expense.

The meeting was the board's regular monthly session and was called to order at 12:35 p.m. by board president De Lux, with directors Lynn Griffin and Sam Henderson, Jr. in attendance. Director Ronnie Sauer was absent.

Among other business, the district's financial report was considered and approved, as was a cooperative management agreement with Sutton County Underground Water Conservation District.

Before adjourning the board reviewed proposed changes to the district's current rules. It was noted that the rules won't go into effect until a public hearing can be held. Following the hearing the board may then vote on the proposed changes. Cawley noted that most of the changes involve minor changes to the language of the rules, bringing them in line with existing state groundwater regulations. She said that a notice of the public hearing will be published in The Eldorado Success.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published July 22, 2004
 
Back